Vin Diesel to start The Machine

May 20, 2011 - By Neil

Things are on the up and up for Vin Diesel. With the latest in the Fast/Furious franchise just about to head north of $500 million worldwide, Deadline are reporting that franchise addict Vin Diesel is set to star in and produce an action comedy titled The Machine for MGM, written by previous Diesel collaborators Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant (Night at the Museum, The Pacifier).

Here’s an outline of the film:

‘The story involves Diesel playing a human-like machine created in secrecy by the Pentagon to be the world’s first ultimate weapon. Some 20 years after the machine was decommissioned and buried, The Machine is discovered, reactivated and befriended by a kid. When the government learns that The Machine is back in operation, the ultimate weapon’s mission becomes to protect the family that is harboring him.’

Jonathan Glickman, MGM Motion Picture Group president gushed about the news,

“We could not be happier to be partnering with Vin again, especially on a film with such classic themes that will appeal to his broad audience around the world,”

So far so Terminator 2 you may be thinking. However Deadline state that the script is more in the tone of The Iron Giant, which just so happened to feature Diesel’s gruff tones. But that was hardly an action comedy more a touching animated drama.